Compact amusement game for travelers



'1 Feb. 17, 1970 L. RLcH-ANDos COMPACT AMUSEMENT FOR b /NvENToR LAURANCE R. CHA/voos BY Filed Feb.19.19ss

' FIGJ L United States Patent O COMPACT AMUSEMENT GAME FOR TRAVELERS Laurance Robert Chandos, 306 Summit, Winfield, Ill. 60190 Filed Feb. 19, 1968, Ser. No. 706,578 Int. Cl. B65d 65/16, 77/08, 3/00 U.S. Cl. 20G-45.33 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention generally relates to an amusement game for occupying the attention of travelers, especially children, who are subjected to long periods of travel. It is well known that children, especially young ones, become irritated and irritatingwhen -conned for any period of' ment. The present invention seeks to negate these decien.

cies. In other words, the subject matter of the game of this invention is commonly seen in traveling so as to alert the young traveler to passing sights and indirectly, so'far as the very young traveler is concerned, educate him as to various objects, animals, geographic areas, numbers and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore it is theprincipal object of the present invention to provide a unique game which is especially ap plicable to travelers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bingotype game which, for all practical purposes, is disposable after one, two or three uses, is.lightweight, easily manipulated and is educational in character.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a game utilizing commonly seen sights when traveling and providing in a single package all of the elements for playing the game as well as the prize object to reward the winner of the game.

Briefly, the invention pertains to an amusement game for occupying the attention of children and, in some instances, adults who may be subjected to long distances of travel in vehicles such as cars.` Basically, a transparent, relatively flat, plastic, flexible container holds one or more flat, bingo-type cards wherein each of the cards is provided with at least a partially perforated portion which may be characterized as of the punch-out type. Each of the perforated portion is arranged in horizontal and vertical rows having indicia associated with each portion identifying different species of various categories such as the names of states as they appear on license plates, various objects commonly seen when traveling cross country, number combinations found on license plates and the like. The package also -contains a small prize object by which 3,495,700 Patented Feb. 17, 1970 ICC to reward the winner of the game. A game package containing all ofthe essential elements of a unique educational game is provided which is conveniently handled and stored for use in automobiles and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE l shows several game cards of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary exploded view showing a specific `detail of one of the game cards of this invention;

FIGURE 3 depicts the type of prize objects that may be included in the game package of this invention;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view showing the game package in its assembled state, and

FIGURE 5 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the lines 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring specically to the drawings it is readily seen that bingo-type cards 2 and 4 have a plurality of vertically and horizontally arranged perforated portions 6 which may be either punched out entirely or, because of the special perforation, may be twisted out of the plane of the card to indicate its use in the game. Basically, the bingo-type cards 2 and 4 have a free space in the center thereof corresponding to that commonly found in bingo cards. The cards, instead of having numbers in this instance, have pictorial representatons of objects normally seen in traveling. For instance, in the upper righthand corner of the card 2 a flag is depicted whereas other objects are depicted in other squares (not all shown). It will be noted that each game package will contain at least one card and ordinarily a plurality of cards, each of which have many of the same pictorial representations but placed differently as illustrated, for instance, on card 4.

Referring specifically to FIGURE 2, it is readily apparent that the indicia or pictorial representation on the card may take various forms. In this instance, the names of states as commonly found on license plates may be printed on each punch-out type portion. 'I he construction of the perforated portion of the card is now referred to in more detail. Card portion 8 has cuts or perforations 10 forming an annular portion 12 which is retained in the remainder of the board at the points 14 which are oppositely ydisposed from one another. Bry providing the portions 14, the punch-out type portion 12 may be punched out entirely or may be rotated out of the plane of the remainder of the card to indicate its use in the game. Of course, to play another game the perforated portion 12 need only be rotated back into the plane of the card and, generally speaking, the portions 14 retain the center portion 12 intact for the playing of several games before breaking away from the remainder of the card causing portion 12 to fall out entirely.

The prize objects of the game as depicted in FIGURE 3 may take a variety of forms and as shown may comprise a small, plastic or other type of material boat 16 or whistle type prize 18 which, referring to FIGURE 4, is ideally packaged within the container Z0 in such a manner that it is not visible from external inspection of the game package. It will be seen from FIGURE 5 that the boat 16 being of somewhat flat coniguration is sandwiched or disposed between the cards 21 and 23 with cards 25 and 27 being viewable through the transparent overwrap forming the container 20. Ideally the prize, in this case the boat 16, is `disposed within the center of the container 20 so as not to be visible by the prospective purchaserV adding additional interest in the game package. It will be noted that slight protuberance is formed on the external surfaces of the container 20 by the boat 16 being disposed therein.

Ideally, the game package 20 formed by overwrap comprises four game cards with the choice of a prize packaged within. The container 20 is of fiat configuration and is made of plastic which is transparent so that the indicia appearing on the cards can be readily seen by a prospective purchaser and is ideally of the heat sealable variety. In the complete game package shown in FIGURE 4, the card 22 comprises one of a series of cards which has numerals printed in the punch-out portions. These numerals, of course, may represent Arabic numerals normally encountered on automobile license plates in traveling and -may represent either combinations of first and last numbers found on license plates or any other combination of numbers depending upon the rules set forth before initiating play of the game.

Generally speaking, the cards are of bingo-type character and may be fabricated of a lightweight cardboard or plastic material but because it is intended that the invention comprise a readily disposable, low cost game package, it is preferred that the cards be made of cardboard. The container 20 may be of any suitable material but it is preferred that it be transparent and be of a plastic material although, obviously, cellophane and similar type materials will do just as well but will not be as durable.

The embodiments disclosed herein necessarily comprise three different types of games. One utilizes objects normally encountered in traveling such as tractors, far-m houses, livestock animals, etc., another, names of states normally found on license plates of automobiles and the third, number combinations using those numbers found on license plates. There are, of course, many other combinations that may be utilized but for present purposes it is believed that the aforementioned indicia representing different species of various categories will suffice for an adequate disclosure of the game. The manner in which the game is played is for each child, or, for that matter an adult member of the traveling party, to take and hold in his hand one card taken from the game package. The prize object is placed aside to await the outcome of the game and to be given to the winner as a prize. At the outset, the playing members may determine whether or not a winning card will require a full punched out or twisted horizontal, vertical or diagonal row, or, for that matter, the entire card. This choice will normally depend upon the length of the game which is to be played. The various alternatives as to how the game can be played are normally printed on the back of the card (not shown) and are merely to be used as guides, it being fairly apparent that many various modifications may be made, especially when considering the automobile license number type of game.

As the card holder visually sees an object for which there is indicia representation, that particular indicia is looked for on the card and when found, each member thereupon either rotates the perforated portion out of the plane of the card or punches the portion out completely indicating that this particular indicia has been used in the game. The winner of the game determined, as heretofore described, then claims the prize object contained in the game package.

If it is wished to play another game where the punchout type portions have been rotated out of the plane of the card, each of the rotated portions is again put in the plane of the card and play again resumed as heretofore set forth substituting another prize object.

There are various modifications that will at once present themselves to those of ordinary skill in the art and, for the most part, these various modifications will not depart from the spirit of the invention and the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims. It is obvious that a complete game package of low cost and of interesting character has been disclosed which will hold the attention of young travelers during cross country trips and which, incidentally, serves as an educational medium to help those of tender years associate words, letters and objects in an educational way during their travel.

The embodiments of this invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined aS follows:

1. An amusement game for occupying the attention of children while traveling distances in cars which consists of a transparent, flexible overwrap forming a container, one or more bingo-type cards within the container, each of which is provided with at least partially perforated portions arranged in a plurality of rows horizontally and vertically, with indicia being associated with each portion identifying different species of various categories, such as the names of states as they appear on license plates, various objects commonly seen when traveling across country, number combinations found on license plates and the like and a small prize object also within the container, the container being adapted to form a game package that can be conveniently handled or stored.

2. The game in accordance with claim 1 wherein said bingo-type cards are of flat cardboard construction.

3. The game in accordance with claim 2 wherein said at least partially perforated portions are adapted to be punched out from the card or rotatable from the plane of said card to thereby indicate use in said game.

4. The game in accordance with claim 3 wherein said small prize object is disposed between cards such that it cannot be viewed from the exterior of said game package.

'5. The game in accordance with claim 4 wherein said container is plastic and relatively fiat in configuration and is heat sealed.

6. The game in accordance with claim 5 wherein each of said cards differs from others in the vertical and horizontal placement of said indicia.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 137,602 4/1944 Lowe 273-135 2,690,912 10/1954 Noble 273--139 XR 1,781,529 11/1930 Shulman.

1,752,504 4/1930 Pempose 206-45.3l

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner I. M. CASKIE, Assistant Examiner U.s. c1. XR. zoe-47; 27s-131 

